[KeithJG]

Nothing new to say but just more pictures of Rochester Castle from different angles from my postcard collections.

Although one shows Rochester old Bridge it is from the top of the Keep.

[CAT]

A similar view, but dated between 1847-57.

[CAT]

Both correct smiffy and Signals99. It is a common problem with glass plate negative if of an unfamiliar view and little to aid in getting them the right way round, such as distinctive surviving buildings or even street names. Using either pointer can help orientate an image.

[Signals99]

Thanks Cat, took me a while to get it, so the wall on the left must be the boundary wall of Satis House, may have originally been a glass plate type negative, so the road to the right would be Century Walk ?

[smiffy]

The road the man is walking into is known as Centenary Walk, which runs along the rear of Minor Canon Row.

Here's the view from Google

[CAT]

It may be easier if you look at the image flipped.

The photographer appears to have been standing in the junction of St Margaret's Street and the road along the back of the garages (don't know if this has a formal name?). The building with the curving wall on the right of the corrected image is The Old Bursary.

What clinched it for my is the position of the round corner tower on the castle and the fore-building, which should be on the right, not the left.

[Signals99]

If that's the house in the moat, and using the round tower as a reference point, that puts the photographer in St. Margarets Street, just below the entrance to Vines Lane and next to the entrance to Love Lane, in my mind, if so where's the Robuck Arms? Or am I missing something.

[smiffy]

CAT has it. I was scratching my head for half an hour before I realised. I think the clearly printed and authoritative "Maidstone Museum" deceived me a bit - obviously even official sources can sometimes be prone to error.

[Lyn L]

The houses in the moat ?

[CAT]

Is the image reversed?

[smiffy]

This is a picture of the Castle that probably dates from around 1900. Try as I might, I couldn't reconcile this view with the modern one despite the fact that the road layout hasn't changed. It finally dawned on me why, and no doubt many members here will twig sooner than I did.

[smiffy]

The Rochester tank in all its glory, shame it was scrapped:

[smiffy]

I think you're right Signals - there's a whole section on the forum about WW1 tanks:

http://www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=1811.0

[Signals99]

Smiffy -  point of interest ref. the Ashford tank. At one time it contained low voltage switch gear, part of the town network, so maybe that's why it's still in situ?

[Rochester-bred]

I have lived in Rochester since 1958 and have always visited the castle many times during the year and have never seen a tank there in that time .